Congenital cytomegalovirus infection associated with severe lung involvement in a preterm neonate: a causal relationship?

We report a preterm neonate with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection associated with severe lung involvement progressing to early chronic lung disease (CLD) and death. The present case represents the earliest and the most severe lung involvement depending on recurrent maternal CMV infection reported in the literature. Neonatal mortality and progression to early CLD should be considered in the list of possible neonatal sequelae resulting from recurrent maternal CMV infection.     

早期胚胎心肌细胞兴奋收缩耦联模式

目的　研究胚胎心肌细胞兴奋收缩耦联的机理；方法　使用膜片钳与钙离子浓度分析系统测量酶消化法得到的小鼠胚胎心肌细胞的膜电位与细胞内钙离子浓度；结果　细胚胎心肌细胞存在两种兴奋收缩耦联模式，一种与正常成熟心肌细胞的兴奋收缩耦联模式类似，与细胞膜上的钠通道、L-钙离子通道相关；另一种由细胞内钙振荡诱发，这种钙振荡通过细胞膜上的钠钙交换蛋白引起了细胞膜电位的小幅度变化，该模式是一种更基本的兴奋收缩模式。近似熵分析表明，与后一种模式相比较，前一种模式的规律性更强。结论　胚胎心肌细胞存在两种兴奋收缩耦联模式。     

Evaluation of visual evoked potentials in children with headache

Headache is a common problem in childhood. Visual evoked potential (VEP) P100 latencies were recorded in children with headache. Sixty-four patients, aged 10.7 +/- 1.2 years, met the criteria of the International Headache Society for the diagnosis of migraine. Fifty-eight patients, aged 10.2 +/- 1.3 years, with tension headache and 56 healthy subjects, aged 10.3 +/- 1.3 years, as the control group were also studied. Patients with migraine had slightly longer P100 latencies than the other two groups. We conclude that VEP latency recording is a valuable test in the diagnosis of migraine, and can be safely used in children.     

The triad of nesidioblastosis, congenital neuroblastoma and glomerulocystic disease of the newborn: a case report

Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant tumor of the newborn, comprising 20% of all malignancies encountered during the neonatal period. We herein report a newborn who was born after 29 weeks' gestation and died unexpectedly at the 12th hour of life with no response to vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Autopsy findings revealed a right pararenal mass; microscopic examination showed neuroblastoma. Although the pancreas was grossly normal, its microscopic sections revealed a reduced number of islets of Langerhans and dispersion of the islet cells throughout the exocrine cells of the pancreas, and immunocytochemistry for the pancreatic hormones confirmed the dispersion of the islet cells. Final pathologic interpretation thus concluded the presence of nesidioblastosis. Furthermore, microscopic examination of the kidney showed glomerulocystic disease. Although the association of congenital neuroblastoma and nesidioblastosis has recently been defined as a new complex, neurocristopathy, the triad of congenital neuroblastoma, nesidioblastosis and glomerulocystic disease of the newborn has not been reported previously. To our knowledge, our case is the first reported newborn presenting with this triad. In conclusion, the association of nesidioblastosis and/or renal glomerulocystic disease should be kept in mind when encountering a case of congenital neuroblastoma. However, whether the presence of glomerulocystic disease in association with those other neurocristopathic pathologies is a coincidental finding or shares a common pathophysiological mechanism remains to be determined.     

Evaluation of bone mineral density in chronic glue sniffers

Although acute and chronic toxic effects of inhalant (glue) abuse have been well demonstrated on many organ systems, the effects on the skeletal system and bone mineral content of young people with this addiction have, to our knowledge, not yet been investigated by bone mineral density measurement. In the present study bone mineral density was measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method in 25 children and adolescents with inhalant abuse and compared with that of a control group (n=30) to detect whether there was any delay in bone development or any decrease in bone mass. Chronological age, height and weight, serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels of the study group were not significantly different from those of the control group (p>0.05), whereas bone mineral density was significantly reduced in the study group (p=0.001). Teenagers with glue vapor abuse may carry an increased risk of future fracture even though the exact mechanism(s) responsible for the toxicitiy of glue vapor on bone metabolism remains to be determined. To ascertain the exact component of glue responsible for bone demineralisation may be of value in proposing a change in the composition of the glue. Education and/or rehabilitation programs currently have the greatest importance in preventing and overcoming the harmful effects of this public health problem which is so common in young children and adolescents.